ARMED FORCES DIGEST

armed forces digest

VETERANS

Women’s conference

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System of Ohio are teaming up to host the 2011 Ohio Women Veterans’ Conference on Oct. 8.

The conference begins at 10 a.m. and will be at the Aladdin Shrine Center, 3850 Stelzer Road, Columbus. The cost is $10 per person. The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission plans to provide transportation to the event. Contact Brenda Polas at 330-740-2450, ext. 8384, for more information or assistance with registration.

The keynote speaker is Lt. Col. Janis Nark, USAR retired, a veteran of the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. A graduate of the Armed Forces Command and General Staff College, Nark is president of her own corporation, and her fashions are marketed nationally and internationally under her private label, JJ Snow, Ltd. She is a motivational speaker and is a director on the boards of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and the Veterans Resource Network Association.

To register for the conference online, go to www.ohioamvets275.org. or download the registration form and mail a $10 check, payable to the Women Veterans Conference, to AMVETS Post 275, 423 North St., Steubenville, OH 43952. Guests of veterans also must register and pay the registration fee. For more information, call Karen Kish at 614-752-8941.

Commander elected

YOUNGSTOWN

John Pariza has been elected commander of Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 137. Other 2011-12 officers elected are: Robert Bakalik, 1st vice commander; Robert Vitullo, 2nd vice commander and membership chairman; Harold Barringer, treasurer; Flank Sloat, adjutant; Richard Koker, chaplain; Lloyd Edwards and Dean McClain, one-year trustees; Robert Brothers and Richard Schulz, two-year trustees, and Fred Ciarnello and Steve Firment, three-year trustees.

PROMOTIONS

New captain

BOARDMAN

Army Capt. Todd Asher Belinky, son of Cynthia and Judge Mark Belinky of Boardman, was promoted to his current rank while serving in the Virginia National Guard. The ceremony was conducted at Fort A. P. Hill, Va., on July 18.

Belinky’s new rank insignia was pinned on his uniform by a World War II veteran of the 29th Infantry Division. Belinky and other soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division also were honored by the presence of veterans of the Normandy invasion.

Belinky is a 2000 graduate of Boardman High School and a graduate of John Carroll University.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Combat engineers

Marine Pvts. Craig M. Moy and Rebecca D. Beltran have graduated from the Basic Combat Engineer Course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Moy, son of Debbie Moy and Bill Moy, both of Vienna, is a 2006 graduate of Brookfield High School. Beltran is a 2010 graduate of Steubenville High School.

Marine Cpl. Patrick McCutcheon, son of Jilda Ross of Boardman, and William McCutcheon of Poland, graduated from the Combat Engineer Noncommissioned Officer Course for supervisors. McCutcheon is a 2007 graduate of Boardman High School.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com